Although I'm a guy (5 feet 10 inches), I'd like to say that your observation about center of gravity offsetting weight when it comes to low-speed confidence is spot-on.
I have never ridden a K 1600 B but I'd like to note that the new Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic has also picked up much better mass centralization and a better center of gravity, if those bikes are more your style.
I've put 2,500 miles on a 720-pound 2018 Heritage Classic, and I am shocked at how much easier this bike is to lift up at a stop and navigate turns at really low speeds (3-10 mph) than the prior generations. It feels like a 500 pound cruiser (and has a low seat height shorter folks might prefer.)
In contrast, one of the most "tipsy" bikes I've owned was a Honda VFR 800, which, while only 550 pounds wet, carried it's v4 higher in the frame and had a semi-sporty riding position that aggravates that characteristic at low speeds. Based on the numbers alone, you'd think the Honda was friendlier to smaller/lighter folks than the 2018 Harley, but the difference couldn't be more stark in reality.
I note this because when evaluating a new ride, I see women and smaller riders check out the dry/wet weight online and say "Oh, that's too heavy," when much of the tip-over risk they might experience is from a higher center of gravity or poor mass centralization. It's great to see someone point this out — those heavy bikes can still work really well for shorter and lighter folks if the engineering is good.
Doug Erickson
Bothell, WA
Wednesday, October 11, 2017